I think I would have failed him. He was obviously very smart so maybe that would have been an opportunity to learn to be responsible for himself and to find something else he was more passionate about. It doesn't make sense to me to study something just because someone else wants you to study it, and then feeling miserable dragging yourself to work every morning after having graduated. Hopefully he found something enjoyable in the profession, otherwise I am afraid he just sits at his desk waiting for retire...